| Author | Message | ||
     Metalcruncher |
I started using battery tenders when one came with a used Road King I purchased. I liked the idea an put one on all my bikes including my 2000 M2 Cyclone. I'm using the Harley Davidson 750mA Supersmart battery tender. Last spring, I took one of my bikes out of my workshop and rode it to the bank. Wouldn't start after that. Battery was dead after a 30 minute ride and it took a jump from my truck to get it started and back to my workshop. A new battery was the solution. Last week, I took my Buell out of my workshop and rode it home. It wouldn't start for the return trip. I tried to jump it with my truck but when I took the lead of the positive terminal, the Buell died. It was that dead. A new battery was the solution. After some pondering, I realized that I've really never had battery problems like this over the last 30 years. I've always seen and felt a battery losing it's "umph" during start which signaled it's replacement. After talking to some local motorcycle enthusiasts, I believe that using battery tenders accelerates the life of the battery and also masks a weak battery when it's fresh off the tender. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I use a battery tender all the time anymore. Even in the middle of summer, I get home from work, pull the bike in the garage and plug it in. It sounds like your batteries were on their way to dying on their own, but your tender gave it just enough power to start the first time, but it's not holding enough of a charge for it to power back up while you were riding. These bikes aren't easy on batteries either, those big twin cylinders took a nice oomph to get them spinning. After a few times of having issues, I ended up just wiring in a voltmeter and mounting it next to my dash. That way I can tell at a glance if my battery is charging while I'm riding, and how much of a charge it has when I turn the key. They're pretty simple to wire in and are cheap. Might be worthwhile to look into. | ||
| Kc_zombie |
It's telling that your bike died when you pulled the positive lead off the battery. Have you checked the voltage while the bike is running? | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
When my lead acid batteries die, I replace them with shorai lithium. End of the headaches. If it’s cold out, let the lithium battery warm up 30 secs or so with the switch on. IF you want to stay lead acid, get a quality lead acid. Either Duracell from batteries plus or preferably an odyssey battery. Either of these are going to be $125-175, the lithium will be closer to $225-275, depending on your Google fu. For the record, I don’t use a tender on my lead acid constantly, it does seem to kill batteries in my experience. I would put it on a tender no more than 24 hours per month. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
https://youtu.be/3ywopGAXP-I Fortnine’s battery shootout is worth the watch. | ||
| Victory |
Real battery tenders shut off the charging and float the charge at 12v. if theres no drain on the battery and if its in good condition. how long until the battery tender is going to push 1 amp into the battery and how long will it take before tender shuts off at 12 volts. | ||
| Jolly |
I stopped using “Battery Tender” by brand name and switched to “Battery Minder”. I also use a dedicated unit per bike, and mount the unit on the wall, get it up off the concrete. 2012 for lead acid and AGM, but not specialty AGM, 2012 AGM for AGM and specialty AGM like odysse, not for lead acid. I was losing batteries when I was trying to maintain more than one battery per unit. With way too many bikes in the “collection” I had to find a solution that worked. Things are a lot more stable now. In fairness I still have batteries die after 5-6 years old, but I don’t have any interim issues, no surprises. | ||
| Midknyte |
I use tenders and would recommend, however one of my tenders I believe was bad and killed two batteries prematurely. The charging indicator cycling on/off unlike the others. I've since replaced it. So there's that... | ||
| Ratbuell |
I just swapped my Ulysses' battery. It was installed in 2014. Regular tender use ("Battery Tender Jr"). I have discovered they won't save a dying battery, only prolong life. To resurrect, I also have a NoCo battery tender/charger. It will de-sulfate and resurrect a dead battery for...well, for a while, if there's enough charge in it for it to realize "hey, there's a battery here". My Uly was so dead, it didn't read "battery" at all. But I've had car batteries in my toy cars (limited use) be too dead to start, but still turn on the dome lights. Barely. Hook up the NoCo overnight, it shows full charge the next day, and I can drive it all summer long without having to recharge anything. And by "all summer" I mean a weekend or two a month, maybe. NOT regular use by any stretch. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
No clue if it would work on auto batteries, but I've seen people with tool batteries that were too dead to be recognized by the charger. I forget exactly how they fixed it, but I think they used some wire and connected the dead battery to a good battery just for a couple seconds, then plugged it into the charger and it had gotten just enough charge to pick it up. Like I said, I can't remember the specifics, but it's something a couple minutes on google could probably clarify. | ||
| Stonemaster |
There is a method on tic tok and you tube where u hook the dead battery to a stick welder a revive them, havent tried it myself just throwin that out there | ||
| Oldog |
There is a method on tic tok and you tube where u hook the dead battery to a stick welder a revive them, havent tried it myself just throwin that out there don't do this in the house, garage, shop as a fire / or explosion are possible results. Batteries must be quite large to require that kind of energy. I just purchased a battery minder from Batteries plus, with a new batt for the 1125. The shumacher(sp) charger I was using killed the previous battery in 3 years even though it is said to have a maintainer mode The new charger is only capable of 800 miliamps I am testing it this weekend to see how well it works. Joe which model of NOCO did you get I I may get one for the other bike.. } |
